Methods, systems and computer program products for automatically updating long distance country codes

ABSTRACT

Long distance country codes that are used by a group of users are updated by automatically sending an electronic message to the group of users that includes at least one new or changed long distance country code, in response to automatically obtaining a listing of long distance country codes from an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) website. More specifically, a listing of long distance country codes is automatically obtained from the ITU website. The listing of long distance country codes that is obtained from the ITU website is automatically compared to preexisting long distance country codes that are used by the group of users, to identify at least one new or changed long distance country code. An electronic message, such as an email message, is automatically sent to the group of users that includes the at least one new or changed long distance country code that was identified.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the telecommunications methods, systems andcomputer program products, and more particularly to internationaltelecommunications systems, methods and computer program products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Telecommunications systems, methods and computer program products arewidely used for worldwide communications of voice, multimedia and/ordata. As is well known to those having skill in the art, long distancecountry codes are used in international direct dialing. The longdistance country codes are also referred to in the telecommunicationsindustry as assigned country codes, IDDD codes or simply as countrycodes. For example, the United States is assigned country code 1, Franceis assigned country code 33 and Japan is assigned country code 81. Thesecountry codes are assigned by the International Telecommunication Union(ITU).

The long distance country codes are used within a telecommunicationsprovider that operates a plurality of telecommunications switches toprovision the switches. In particular, a telecommunications provider mayinclude a Complex Translations Group (CTG), often referred to as aTranslations Group, which includes technicians who are responsible forprogramming country codes, area codes, local switch codes and/or othercodes in the switches. This process is referred to as provisioning theswitches. If an improper long distance country code is provisioned inthe switch, it may result in improper routing of a call. Othertelecommunications system users also may use the long distance countrycodes for direct dialing of long distance calls, either manually or inconnection with speed dialing or automatic dialing devices.

As is also well known to those having skill in the art, country codesmay change. These changes may occur when a new country code is added ora country code is changed. The CTG within a telecommunications companyoften finds out about a new or changed country code as a result of acustomer trouble report, when a customer attempted to dial aninternational long distance number and was routed to the wrong number orcould not connect. In other instances, an email may be received fromanother member of the CTG staff, or another member of thetelecommunications provider who learns about the new or changed countrycode. This may be contrasted from changes in area codes, wherein thetelecommunications provider typically initiates the change in an areacode, and therefore has advance notice of the change in an area code.The switch can then be provisioned with the new area code at theappropriate time, to reduce or eliminate dialing or routing errors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the present invention update long distance countrycodes that are used by a group of users, by automatically sending to thegroup of users an electronic message that includes at least one new orchanged long distance country code, in response to automaticallyobtaining a listing of long distance country codes from an InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU) website. More specifically, in someembodiments, a listing of long distance country codes is automaticallyobtained from the ITU website. The listing of long distance countrycodes that is obtained from the ITU website is automatically compared topreexisting long distance country codes that are used by the group ofusers, to identify at least one new or changed long distance countrycode. An electronic message, such as an email message, is automaticallysent to the group of users that includes the at least one new or changedlong distance country code that was identified.

In some embodiments, the listing of long distance country codes isautomatically obtained from the ITU website at spaced apart timeintervals. Accordingly, long distance country codes may be automaticallyupdated at regular intervals, without the need to rely on troublereports and/or other failure mechanisms to alert users of a new orchanged country code. Thus, in some embodiments, the preexisting longdistance country codes that are used by the group of users correspond tothe listing of long distance country codes that was automaticallyobtained from the ITU website in an immediately preceding time interval.In other embodiments, however, the automatically obtaining is performedin response to a trouble report that indicates that at least one of thepreexisting country codes is inoperative. It also will be understoodthat the listing of long distance country codes may be obtained from asource that directly or indirectly obtained the listing of long distancecountry codes from the ITU website.

In some embodiments, the group of users comprises telecommunicationsprovider technicians who are responsible for provisioning a plurality oftelecommunications switches. In these embodiments, thetelecommunications switches may be provisioned with the at least one newor changed country code.

In some embodiments, electronic mail addresses of the group of users areobtained so that the electronic mail message can be sent to the theseelectronic mail addresses. In other embodiments, an electronic messageis automatically sent to the group of users to indicate that no new orchanged country codes were identified. In still other embodiments, thelisting of long distance country codes from the ITU website and thepreexisting long distance country codes that are used by the group ofusers are compared by running a no match query on at least one databasein which both groups of country codes are stored.

Finally, it will be understood that embodiments of the present inventionwere described above primarily with respect to methods of updating longdistance country codes and of provisioning a plurality oftelecommunication switches with long distance country codes. However,other embodiments may provide analogous systems and/or computer programproducts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of systems for updating long distance countrycodes that are used by a group of users according to some embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of systems for provisioning a plurality oftelecommunications switches with long distance country codes accordingto some embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 3–5 are flowcharts of operations that may be performed to updatelong distance country codes according to various embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of operations that may be performed to provision atelecommunications switch according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a network-connected computer that isconfigured to update long distance country codes according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of operations that may be performed to updatelong distance country codes according to other embodiments of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying figures, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manyalternate forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein.

Accordingly, while the invention is susceptible to various modificationsand alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit theinvention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, theinvention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theclaims. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the descriptionof the figures.

The present invention is described below with reference to blockdiagrams and/or flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus (systems)and/or computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It is understood that each block of the block diagrams and/orflowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These computer program instructions may beprovided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purposecomputer, and/or other programmable data processing apparatus to producea machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processorof the computer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus,create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the blockdiagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the block diagrams and/orflowchart block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe block diagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks.

It should also be noted that in some alternate implementations, thefunctions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted inthe flowcharts. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in factbe executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes beexecuted in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/actsinvolved.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of systems for updating long distance codesthat are used by a group of users according to some embodiments of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of users 110 areconnected via a network 120 to a long distance country code updatingsystem 130. In some embodiments, the network includes the Internet, andthe connections may be wired and/or wireless connections. In otherembodiments, the network 120 can also include an intranet, extranetand/or other public and/or private network. The ITU website 140 is alsodirectly or indirectly connected to the network 120. The ITU website maybe found on the World Wide Web at itu.org. The ITU website includes a“List of ITU-T Recommendation E.164 Assigned Country Codes” atitu.int/itudoc/itu-t/ob-lists/icc/e164_(—)763_ww9.doc. This listing isalso available on the ITU home page atitu.int/itu-t/bulletins/index.html and can be consulted by subscribersby remote access. It will be understood that other addresses may be usedto access the ITU website. It also will be understood that other sourcesalso may be accessed via the network 120, which directly or indirectlyobtain the listing of long distance country codes from the ITU website140.

Still referring to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the long distancecountry code updating system 130 can be embodied as anetwork-connectable computer that is capable of sending and receivingemails. One or more enterprise, application, personal and/or pervasivecomputing devices may be used. In some embodiments, the long distancecountry code updating system 130 is configured to automatically send anelectronic message to the group of users 110 that includes at least onenew or changed long distance country code, in response to automaticallyobtaining a listing of long distance country codes directly orindirectly from the ITU website 140.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of systems for provisioning a plurality oftelecommunications switches 240 with long distance country codesaccording to some embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG.2, these systems include a plurality of technician terminals 210 thatmay interface with the network 120. In some embodiments, the technicianterminals are desktop computers, laptop computers, Personal DigitalAssistants (PDAs) and/or other conventional wired or wireless terminals.The technicians provision the telecommunications switches 240 using thetechnician terminals 210 and/or using manual provisioning operationsthat are well known to those having skill in the art. A complextranslations group system 230 is configured to automatically send to thetechnician terminals 210 of those technicians who are responsible forprovisioning the telecommunications switches 240, an electronic messagethat includes at least one new or changed long distance country code, inresponse to automatically obtaining a listing of long distance countrycodes directly or indirectly from the ITU website 140. It will beunderstood that the complex translations group system 230 may beembodied as one or more enterprise, application, personal and/orpervasive computing devices.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of operations that may be performed for longdistance country code updating according to some embodiments of thepresent invention. These operations may be performed, for example, bythe long distance country code updating system 130 of FIG. 1 and/or thecomplex translations group system 230 of FIG. 2. Referring now to FIG.3, at Block 310, a listing of long distance country codes isautomatically obtained directly or indirectly from an ITU website suchas the ITU website 140. At Block 320, the listing of long distancecountry codes that is obtained from the ITU website is automaticallycompared to preexisting long distance country codes that are used by thegroup of users, such as users 110 of FIG. 1 or technicians associatedwith the technician terminals 210 of FIG. 2, to identify at least onenew or changed long distance country code. Finally, at Block 330, anelectronic message is automatically sent to the group of users thatincludes the at least one new or changed country code that wasidentified.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of operations that may be performed according toother embodiments of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 4illustrates embodiments in which the operations of FIG. 3 may berepeatedly performed at spaced apart time intervals. For example, theoperations may be automatically performed once per day, once per week,once per month, etc., based, for example, on an expected updatefrequency of the ITU website 140. Thus, referring to FIG. 4, at Block410, upon expiration of the time interval, the operations of Blocks 310,320 and 330 are performed. In these embodiments, the preexisting longdistance country codes that are used by the group of users maycorrespond to the listing of long distance country codes that wasautomatically obtained from the ITU website 140 in an immediatelypreceding time interval.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of operations that may be performed according toyet other embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 5, an electronicmail message may be sent whether or not new or changed country codeswere identified. Thus, users can be provided an indication that thecountry code updating continues to be operational, even though noupdates were received. In particular, referring to FIG. 5, operations ofBlocks 310 and 320 are performed. Then, at Block 510, a determination ismade as to whether new or changed country codes were identified in theoperations of Block 320. If yes, then operations of Block 330 areperformed. If no, then an electronic message is automatically sent thatindicates that no new or changed country codes were found, at Block 520.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of operations that may be performed to provisiontelecommunications switches according to some embodiments of the presentinvention. These operations may be performed, for example, by thecomplex translations group terminals 230 of FIG. 2 and/or by thetechnicians who are associated with these terminals. Referring to FIG.6, the operations of Block 310 are performed. Then at Block 610, anelectronic message that includes the new or changed country codes isautomatically sent to the technicians who are responsible forprovisioning the switches 240. At Block 620, the switches are thenprovisioned with the new or changed country codes, for example usingconventional provisioning procedures. It also will be understood that inother embodiments, combinations or subcombinations of FIGS. 3–6 may beprovided.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of systems that may be used to update longdistance country codes according to other embodiments of the invention.These systems 700 may provide embodiments of a long distance countrycode updating system 130 of FIG. 1 and/or a complex translations groupsystem 230 of FIG. 2. These systems 700 may be embodied in one or morepersonal, application, enterprise and/or pervasive computing devicesthat include a network interface 710, such as a conventional Internetinterface.

As shown in FIG. 7, an ITU listing database 720 contains therein alisting of long distance country codes that is automatically obtainedfrom the ITU website via the network interface 710. A preexistingcountry code database 730 contains the preexisting long distance countrycodes that are used by the group of users. In some embodiments, thepreexisting country code database 730 comprises the listing of longdistance country codes that was obtained from the ITU website in animmediately preceding time interval. In some embodiments, the ITUlisting database 720 and the preexisting country code database 730 arecontained in a single database. In some embodiments, these databases arecontained in a conventional Microsoft Access database operating in aconventional Microsoft Windows NT environment. An email generator 750also is included that generates an email to users that are listed in ausers database 760. The email generator may operate using a conventionalMicrosoft Outlook program and a conventional Microsoft Word programoperating in a conventional Microsoft Windows NT environment.

The system 700 of FIG. 7 may implement operations of FIGS. 3–6,according to some embodiments of the invention, by allowing aconventional Windows NT Task Scheduler to schedule a conventionalMicrosoft Excel spreadsheet to open at a predefined time period. Whenthe Excel spreadsheet opens, a conventional auto-open macro may be usedto download the long distance country codes from the ITU website acrossthe Internet using the network interface 710 and to import thedownloaded country codes into the Excel spreadsheet. The downloadedcountry codes may then be moved to an ITU listing database 720.

A conventional no match query 740 may be run in Microsoft Access using astandard query wizard, to compare the ITU listing database 720 to thepreexisting country code database 730. The query can return empty ifeverything matches. If so, the process can end or the email generator750 can generate a no match email using the users database 760, as wasdescribed at Block 520 of FIG. 5. On the other hand, if differences werefound, emails may be built using conventional Microsoft Word macros andsent to the users as was described at Block 330.

In some embodiments, these emails may have a subject of “Country CodeChange/Update Notification”. The body of the email may be differentdepending on whether a country code is changed or a country code isupdated. In a hypothetical example that Monaco was made a part ofFrance, the body of the change notification email may appear as follows:

Country code Country, Geographical area or Global service From: 377Monaco (Principality of) To:  33 FranceIn another hypothetical example, if France formed a new country, thebody of the update notification may appear as follows:

Country code Country, Geographical area or Global service Add: 210 “Thecountry formely known as France”.Other email message formats may be used.

It will also be understood that the users database 760 may be maintainedautomatically. For example, a user may log on to the system 700, forexample using the Internet, and add, update or delete the user's name.It also will be understood that embodiments of FIG. 7 may be used withembodiments of FIGS. 3–6 and combinations and subcombinations thereof.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of other embodiments of the present invention.Prior to actually starting the updating operations at Block 830, someinitial set up activities are performed. Thus, at Block 810, initial setup activities are begun to obtain email addresses for the translationcenters of the translation group and/or other users who are to receivethe automatic updating of long distance country codes, at Block 812. AtBlock 814, these email address are stored in a database on the computerhosting the program, which may correspond to the users database 760 ofFIG. 7. As also shown at Block 820, initial setup may also includesetting up a database containing a current list of country codes andstoring them for reference at Block 822 in an IDDD database 824, whichmay correspond to the preexisting country code database 730 of FIG. 7.

Updating operations then begin at Block 830. The operations that beginat Block 830 may begin at a scheduled time and/or upon manualactivation, for example upon receiving a trouble complaint. At Block832, the operations access the Web page of the ITU, an address of whichis shown at Block 834, and download the current list of country codes atBlock 836, for example into the ITU Listing database 720 of FIG. 7. AtBlock 840, the previously stored country code (IDDD) database 824 isaccessed and the two lists are compared at Block 842. If differences aredetected at Block 850, then the stored email address list, such as theusers database 760, is accessed at Block 852, and at Block 854, theupdates/changes are emailed to the appropriate addresses. On the otherhand, if differences are not detected at Block 850, then the emailaddress list may be accessed at Block 856 and an email message that nochanges are needed may be sent at Block 858.

Embodiments of the present invention can reduce or prevent lack oftimely notification of changes to or additions of country codes relatedto international direct dialing. A customer trouble report or otherrandom observation or email need not be relied on to initiate a change.Rather, in some embodiments, the Complex Translations Group in eachstate may be notified periodically of additions or changes. In someembodiments, all manual activity and potentially all oversight can beremoved from the notification process, to allow better service totelecommunications systems customers. Embodiments of the invention caninclude components to run on a scheduled basis, query the website of theITU, download the latest list of country codes, compare to the previouslist and send electronic notification to responsible users. Embodimentsof the present invention may be used to improve the provisioning oftelecommunication switches. Moreover, embodiments of the invention maybe used to provide updates to users on a subscription basis.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed embodimentsof the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they areused in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims.

1. A method of updating long distance country codes that are used by agroup of users comprising: automatically obtaining a listing of longdistance country codes from an International Telecommunication Union(ITU) website; automatically comparing the listing of long distancecountry codes that is obtained from the ITU website to preexisting longdistance country codes that are used by the group of users, to identifyat least one new or changed long distance country code; andautomatically sending an electronic message to the group of users thatincludes the at least one new or changed long distance country code thatwas identified.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein theautomatically obtaining a listing is repeatedly performed at spacedapart time intervals.
 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the groupof users comprises telecommunications technicians who are responsiblefor provisioning a plurality of telecommunications switches, the methodfurther comprising: provisioning the plurality of telecommunicationsswitches with the at least one new or changed long distance countrycode.
 4. A method according to claim 1: wherein the automaticallysending an electronic message is preceded by obtaining electronic mailaddresses of the group of users; and wherein the automatically sendingan electronic message comprises automatically sending an electronic mailmessage to the electronic mail addresses of the group of users thatincludes the at least one new or changed long distance country code thatwas identified.
 5. A method according to claim 1 wherein theautomatically comparing is preceded by storing the preexisting longdistance country codes that are used by the group of users.
 6. A methodaccording to claim 1 further comprising automatically sending anelectronic message to the group of users that indicates that no new orchanged long distance country codes were identified in response tofailure of the automatically comparing to identify at least one new orchanged long distance country code.
 7. A method according to claim 2wherein the preexisting long distance country codes that are used by thegroup of users correspond to the listing of long distance country codesthat was automatically obtained from the ITU website in an immediatelypreceding time interval.
 8. A method according to claim 1 wherein theautomatically comparing comprises: storing the listing of long distancecountry codes from the ITU website and the preexisting long distancecountry codes that are used by the group of users in at least onedatabase; and running a no match query on the at least one database toidentify the at least one new or changed long distance country code. 9.A method according to claim 1 wherein the automatically obtaining isperformed in response to a trouble report that indicates that at leastone of the preexisting country codes is inoperative.
 10. A methodaccording to claim 1 wherein the automatically obtaining comprisesautomatically obtaining the listing of long distance country codes froma source that directly or indirectly obtained the listing of longdistance country codes from the ITU website.
 11. A method of updatinglong distance country codes that are used by a group of userscomprising: automatically sending an electronic message to the group ofusers that includes at least one new or changed long distance countrycode, in response to automatically obtaining a listing of long distancecountry codes from an International Telecommunication Union (ITU)website.
 12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the automaticallysending is repeatedly performed at spaced apart time intervals.
 13. Amethod according to claim 11 wherein the group of users comprisestelecommunications technicians who are responsible for provisioning aplurality of telecommunications switches, the method further comprising:provisioning the plurality of telecommunications switches with the atleast one new or changed long distance country code.
 14. A methodaccording to claim 11 further comprising automatically sending anelectronic message to the group of users that indicates that no new orchanged long distance country codes were identified.
 15. A method ofprovisioning a plurality of telecommunications switches with longdistance country codes, comprising: automatically sending to technicianswho are responsible for provisioning the plurality of telecommunicationsswitches, an electronic message that includes at least one new orchanged long distance country code, in response to automaticallyobtaining a listing of long distance country codes from an InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU) website.
 16. A method according to claim15: wherein the automatically sending is preceded by automaticallyobtaining the listing of long distance country codes from the ITUwebsite; and wherein the automatically sending comprises automaticallycomparing the listing of long distance country codes that is obtainedfrom the ITU website to preexisting long distance country codes that areused by the technicians, to identify at least one new or changed longdistance country code.
 17. A method according to claim 16 wherein theautomatically obtaining the listing is repeatedly performed at spacedapart time intervals.
 18. A method according to claim 16 wherein theautomatically comparing is preceded by storing the preexisting longdistance country codes that are used by the technicians.
 19. A methodaccording to claim 16 further comprising automatically sending anelectronic message to the technicians that indicates that no new orchanged long distance country codes were identified in response tofailure of the automatically comparing to identify at least one new orchanged long distance country code.
 20. A method according to claim 16wherein the preexisting long distance country codes that are used by thetechnicians correspond to the listing of long distance country codesthat was automatically obtained from the ITU website in an immediatelypreceding time interval.
 21. A method according to claim 16 wherein theautomatically comparing comprises: storing the listing of long distancecountry codes from the ITU website and the preexisting long distancecountry codes that are used by the technicians in at least one database;and running a no match query on the at least one database to identifythe at least one new or changed long distance country code.
 22. A methodaccording to claim 16 wherein the automatically obtaining is performedin response to a trouble report that indicates that at least one of thepreexisting country codes is inoperative.
 23. A method according toclaim 16 wherein the automatically obtaining comprises automaticallyobtaining the listing of long distance country codes from a source thatdirectly or indirectly obtained the listing of long distance countrycodes from the ITU website.
 24. A system for updating long distancecountry codes that are used by a group of users comprising: anetwork-connectable computer system that is configured to automaticallysend an electronic message to the group of users, via a network, thatincludes at least one new or changed long distance country code, inresponse to automatically obtaining, via the network, a listing of longdistance country codes from an International Telecommunication Union(ITU) website.
 25. A system according to claim 24 wherein thenetwork-connectable computer system is further configured toautomatically compare the listing of long distance country codes that isobtained from the ITU website to preexisting long distance country codesthat are used by the group of users, to identify at least one new orchanged long distance country code.
 26. A system according to claim 24wherein the network-connectable computer system is configured toautomatically send the electronic message at spaced apart timeintervals.
 27. A system according to claim 24 wherein the group of userscomprises telecommunications technicians who are responsible forprovisioning a plurality of telecommunications switches.
 28. A systemaccording to claim 24 wherein the network-connectable computer system isfurther configured to obtain electronic mail addresses of the group ofusers.
 29. A system according to claim 24 wherein thenetwork-connectable computer system is further configured to store thepreexisting long distance country codes that are used by the group ofusers.
 30. A system according to claim 25 wherein thenetwork-connectable computer system is further configured toautomatically send an electronic message to the group of users thatindicates that no new or changed long distance country codes wereidentified in response to failure of the network-connectable computersystem to identify at least one new or changed long distance countrycode.
 31. A system according to claim 26 wherein the preexisting longdistance country codes that are used by the group of users correspond tothe listing of long distance country codes that was automaticallyobtained from the ITU website in an immediately preceding time interval.32. A system according to claim 25 wherein the network-connectablecomputer system is configured to automatically compare by storing thelisting of long distance country codes from the ITU website and thepreexisting long distance country codes that are used by the group ofusers in at least one database, and running a no match query on the atleast one database to identify the at least one new or changed longdistance country code.
 33. A system according to claim 24 wherein theautomatically obtaining comprises automatically obtaining the listing oflong distance country codes from a source that directly or indirectlyobtained the listing of long distance country codes from the ITUwebsite.
 34. A system for updating long distance country codes that areused by a group of users comprising: means for automatically obtaining alisting of long distance country codes from an InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU) website; means for automatically comparingthe listing of long distance country codes that is obtained from the ITUwebsite to preexisting long distance country codes that are used by thegroup of users, to identify at least one new or changed long distancecountry code; and means for automatically sending an electronic messageto the group of users that includes the at least one new or changed longdistance country code that was identified.
 35. A system according toclaim 34 wherein the means for automatically obtaining a listingcomprises means for repeatedly obtaining the listing at spaced aparttime intervals.
 36. A system according to claim 34 wherein the group ofusers comprises telecommunications technicians who are responsible forprovisioning a plurality of telecommunications switches, the systemfurther comprising: means for provisioning the plurality oftelecommunications switches with the at least one new or changed longdistance country code.
 37. A system according to claim 34 furthercomprising: means for obtaining electronic mail addresses of the groupof users; and wherein the means for automatically sending an electronicmessage comprises means for automatically sending an electronic mailmessage to the electronic mail addresses of the group of users thatincludes the at least one new or changed long distance country code thatwas identified.
 38. A system according to claim 34 further comprising:means for storing the preexisting long distance country codes that areused by the group of users.
 39. A system according to claim 34 furthercomprising means for automatically sending an electronic message to thegroup of users that indicates that no new or changed long distancecountry codes were identified in response to failure of the means forautomatically comparing to identify at least one new or changed longdistance country code.
 40. A system according to claim 35 wherein thepreexisting long distance country codes that are used by the group ofusers correspond to the listing of long distance country codes that wasautomatically obtained from the ITU website by the means forautomatically obtaining, in an immediately preceding time interval. 41.A system according to claim 34 wherein the means for automaticallycomparing comprises: means for storing the listing of long distancecountry codes from the ITU website and the preexisting long distancecountry codes that are used by the group of users in at least onedatabase; and means for running a no match query on the at least onedatabase to identify the at least one new or changed long distancecountry code.
 42. A system according to claim 34 wherein the means forautomatically obtaining is responsive to a trouble report that indicatesthat at least one of the preexisting country codes is inoperative.
 43. Asystem according to claim 34 wherein the means for automaticallyobtaining comprises means for automatically obtaining the listing oflong distance country codes from a source that directly or indirectlyobtained the listing of long distance country codes from the ITUwebsite.
 44. A computer program product that is configured to updatelong distance country codes that are used by a group of users, thecomputer program product comprising a computer usable storage mediumhaving computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, thecomputer-readable program code comprising: computer-readable programcode that is configured to automatically obtain a listing of longdistance country codes from an International Telecommunication Union(ITU) website; computer-readable program code that is configured toautomatically compare the listing of long distance country codes that isobtained from the ITU website to preexisting long distance country codesthat are used by the group of users, to identify at least one new orchanged long distance country code; and computer-readable program codethat is configured to automatically send an electronic message to thegroup of users that includes the at least one new or changed longdistance country code that was identified.
 45. A computer programproduct according to claim 44 wherein the computer-readable program codethat is configured to automatically obtain a listing comprisescomputer-readable program code that is configured to repeatedly obtainthe listing at spaced apart time intervals.
 46. A computer programproduct according to claim 44 wherein the group of users comprisestelecommunications technicians who are responsible for provisioning aplurality of telecommunications switches, the computer program productfurther comprising: computer-readable program code that is configured toprovision the plurality of telecommunications switches with the at leastone new or changed long distance country code.
 47. A computer programproduct according to claim 44 further comprising: computer-readableprogram code that is configured to obtain electronic mail addresses ofthe group of users; and wherein the computer-readable program code thatis configured to automatically send an electronic message comprisescomputer-readable program code that is configured to automatically sendan electronic mail message to the electronic mail addresses of the groupof users that includes the at least one new or changed long distancecountry code that was identified.
 48. A computer program productaccording to claim 44 further comprising: computer-readable program codethat is configured to store the preexisting long distance country codesthat are used by the group of users.
 49. A computer program productaccording to claim 44 further comprising computer-readable program codethat is configured to automatically send an electronic message to thegroup of users that indicates that no new or changed long distancecountry codes were identified in response to failure of thecomputer-readable program code that is configured to automaticallycompare to identify at least one new or changed long distance countrycode.
 50. A computer program product according to claim 45 wherein thepreexisting long distance country codes that are used by the group ofusers correspond to the listing of long distance country codes that wasautomatically obtained by the computer-readable program code that isconfigured to automatically obtain, from the ITU website in animmediately preceding time interval.
 51. A computer program productaccording to claim 44 wherein the computer-readable program code that isconfigured to automatically compare comprises: computer-readable programcode that is configured to store the listing of long distance countrycodes from the ITU website and the preexisting long distance countrycodes that are used by the group of users in at least one database; andcomputer-readable program code that is configured to run a no matchquery on the at least one database to identify the at least one new orchanged long distance country code.
 52. A computer program productaccording to claim 44 wherein the computer-readable program code that isconfigured to automatically obtain is responsive to a trouble reportthat indicates that at least one of the preexisting country codes isinoperative.
 53. A computer program product according to claim 44wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured toautomatically obtain comprises computer-readable program code that isconfigured to automatically obtain the listing of long distance countrycodes from a source that directly or indirectly obtained the listing oflong distance country codes from the ITU website.